Cereal and nonfat milk support muscle recovery following exercise

All authors are with the Exercise Physiology and Metabolism Laboratory Department of Kinesiology and Health Education The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USABackground: This study compared the effects of ingesting cereal and nonfat milk (Cereal) and a carbohydrate-electrolyte sports drink (Drink) immediately following endurance exercise on muscle glycogen synthesis and the phosphorylation state of proteins controlling protein synthesis: Akt, mTOR, rpS6 and eIF4E. -- Methods: Trained cyclists or triathletes (8 male: 28.0 ± 1.6 yrs, 1.8 ± 0.0 m, 75.4 ± 3.2 kg, 61.0 ± 1.6 ml O2•kg-1•min-1; 4 female: 25.3 ± 1.7 yrs, 1.7 ± 0.0 m, 66.9 ± 4.6 kg, 46.4 ± 1.2 mlO2•kg-1•min-1) completed two randomly-ordered trials serving as their own controls. After 2 hours of cycling at 60–65% VO2MAX, a biopsy from the vastus lateralis was obtained (Post0), then subjects consumed either Drink (78.5 g carbohydrate) or Cereal (77 g carbohydrate, 19.5 g protein and 2.7 g fat). Blood was drawn before and at the end of exercise, and at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after treatment. A second biopsy was taken 60 minutes after supplementation (Post60). Differences within and between treatments were tested using repeated measures ANOVA. -- Results: At Post60, blood glucose was similar between treatments (Drink 6.1 ± 0.3, Cereal 5.6 ± 0.2 mmol/L, p < .05), but after Cereal, plasma insulin was significantly higher (Drink 123.1 ± 11.8, Cereal 191.0 ± 12.3 pmol/L, p < .05), and plasma lactate significantly lower (Drink 1.4 ± 0.1, Cereal 1.00 ± 0.1 mmol/L, p < .05). Except for higher phosphorylation of mTOR after Cereal, glycogen and muscle proteins were not statistically different between treatments. Significant Post0 to Post60 changes occurred in glycogen (Drink 52.4 ± 7.0 to 58.6 ± 6.9, Cereal 58.7 ± 9.6 to 66.0 ± 10.0 μmol/g, p < .05) and rpS6 (Drink 17.9 ± 2.5 to 35.2 ± 4.9, Cereal 18.6 ± 2.2 to 35.4 ± 4.4 %Std, p < .05) for each treatment, but only Cereal significantly affected glycogen synthase (Drink 66.6 ± 6.9 to 64.9 ± 6.9, Cereal 61.1 ± 8.0 to 54.2 ± 7.2%Std, p < .05), Akt (Drink 57.9 ± 3.2 to 55.7 ± 3.1, Cereal 53.2 ± 4.1 to 60.5 ± 3.7 %Std, p < .05) and mTOR (Drink 28.7 ± 4.4 to 35.4 ± 4.5, Cereal 23.0 ± 3.1 to 42.2 ± 2.5 %Std, p < .05). eIF4E was unchanged after both treatments. -- Conclusion: These results suggest that Cereal is as good as a commercially-available sports drink in initiating post-exercise muscle recovery.Kinesiology and Health [email protected]

Grass Hosts of Cereal Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Between Wheat-Cropping Cycles in South Dakota

Several grasses may serve as alternative hosts for cereal aphids during the interim between small-grain crops in South Dakota, but field studies to determine which grasses are important have not been undertaken. We sampled annual and perennial grasses for cereal aphids in 18 counties in South Dakota in the month of August over three years. Eighty-five of 240 site samples had one or more species of cereal aphids, including 61 of 65 corn sites and 12 of 13 sorghum and sudangrass sites. Four species of cereal aphids were found during the survey: corn leaf aphid, 74 times; bird cherry-oat aphid, 27 times; greenbug, eight times; and English grain aphid, seven times. Abundance of corn leaf aphid on host plants was rated high seven times, moderate 11 times, and low 50 times, and presence only was noted at six other sites. Abundance of bird cherry-oat aphid was rated high four times, moderate four times, and low 19 times. Abundance of English grain aphid and greenbug was always rated low. All high ratings of corn leaf aphid and of bird cherry-oat aphid occurred on field corn. Nine moderate ratings for corn leaf aphid and three for bird cherry-oat aphid occurred on corn. Low frequencies of cereal aphids were found on volunteer small-grains and among weedy grass species such as rough barnyard grass, yellow foxtail, and green foxtail. Cereal aphids were not found on other weedy grasses or on noncultivated grasses. The results suggest that corn and, to less degree, sorghum served as predominant grass hosts of cereal aphids during August in South Dakota. Recent trends of expanding corn acreage in South Dakota may potentially lead to concomitant increases of cereal aphids and intensify the risk of fall infestation of winter grains by cereal aphids

Extensive evolution of cereal ribosome-inactivating proteins translates into unique structural features, activation mechanisms, and physiological roles

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are a class of cytotoxic enzymes that can depurinate rRNAs thereby inhibiting protein translation. Although these proteins have also been detected in bacteria, fungi, and even some insects, they are especially prevalent in the plant kingdom. This review focuses on the RIPs from cereals. Studies on the taxonomical distribution and evolution of plant RIPs suggest that cereal RIPs have evolved at an enhanced rate giving rise to a large and heterogeneous RIP gene family. Furthermore, several cereal RIP genes are characterized by a unique domain architecture and the lack of a signal peptide. This advanced evolution of cereal RIPs translates into distinct structures, activation mechanisms, and physiological roles. Several cereal RIPs are characterized by activation mechanisms that include the proteolytic removal of internal peptides from the N-glycosidase domain, a feature not documented for non-cereal RIPs. Besides their role in defense against pathogenic fungi or herbivorous insects, cereal RIPs are also involved in endogenous functions such as adaptation to abiotic stress, storage, induction of senescence, and reprogramming of the translational machinery. The unique properties of cereal RIPs are discussed in this review paper

Diversifying cereal production

Modern cereal production has reached a stage of homogeneity, where both environment, nutrition and culinary quality suffers. In order to increase cereal diversity, projects have started investigating heritage varieties, and varieties and species with exotic traits. Well performing varieties and landraces will be used as they are, or will be used as genetic donors in a participatory breeding programme developing composite cross population focussing on disease resistance or special quality traits

N supply in stockless organic cereal production under northern temperate conditions. Undersown legumes, or whole-season green manure?

Two systems for nitrogen (N) supply to organic spring cereals were compared under Norwegian conditions. Repeated undersowing of clover in the cereals in four growing seasons was compared to a whole-season green manure in the second year. Cereal yields were higher in the treatments with clover than in the controls. The yield increasing effect of undersown clover was residual. One year of whole-season green manure increased subsequent cereal yields significantly, but not enough to compensate for the loss of yield over the total four-year period. If phytopathological problems can be avoided, repeated undersowing of legumes seems to be more profitable than green manure each fourth year in stockless organic cereal production systems. The soil mineral N decreased during the study, demonstrating a negative N balance. Hence, additional N sources should be found for stockless organic cereal systems under Norwegian conditions

Influence of spatial and temporal dynamics of agricultural practices on the lesser kestrel

1. European agriculture is facing dramatic changes that are likely to have marked impacts on farmland biodiversity. There is an urgent need to develop land management strategies compatible with the conservation of biodiversity.2. We applied a spatially explicit behaviour-based model to assess how farmland management and the pattern of events across the annual farming calendar influences the foraging decisions of lesser kestrels Falco naumanni in a cereal steppe landscape. Moreover, we simulated the most likely scenarios of future agricultural changes to predict its impacts on lesser kestrel breeding success. Lesser kestrels have been the subject of serious conservation concern and constitute a good model species to judge impacts on farmland species more widely.3. Our results show that the location of cereal and fallow patches within a 2-km radius of a kestrel colony influences the total food supply delivered to the nestlings, explaining the differences in breeding success between years and colonies. Furthermore, the particular sequence in which patches are harvested by farmers is also predicted to influence offspring survival.4. Agricultural intensification, simulated by increasing the proportion of cereal fields, is predicted to negatively influence breeding success. However, the field harvesting sequence can play an important role in alleviating the effects of the increased percentage of cereal, as demonstrated by the higher breeding success obtained when harvesting starts from patches farthest from the colonies. The replacement of cereal cultivation by low-intensity grazed fallows would not be detrimental for kestrels.5. Synthesis and applications. Our results highlight the effectiveness of behaviour-based models to evaluate the interacting effect of spatial and temporal dynamics of agricultural landscapes and predict the response of populations to environmental change. To optimize food availability for lesser kestrels, land managers should implement long rotational schemes with < 60% of the area under extensive cereal cultivation in a 2-km radius around colonies. Harvesting should start in the cereal patches farthest from colonies. Ideally, the predominant land use around colonies should be fallows. These outcomes illustrate how behaviour-based models can be applied to identify specific management recommendations that would improve the effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes, the most accepted tool for maintaining farmland landscapes

Review on the possible interactions of pests, diseases & weeds in cereals grown in organic and conventional agriculture

Background The demand for organically produced food is outstripping the ability of UK farmers to supply it and the majority is imported. Furthermore, there is a major shortfall in home-produced organic cereals and cereal products, including straw. In response to this need, the consequences of increasing the area of organically produced cereal crops on pests, diseases and weeds require evaluation. Furthermore, as the area of organic cereals increases, crops may be grown more in the major cereal production regions. This could have consequences for both the organic producer and farmers growing cereals conventionally. Objectives (i) review the current state of knowledge on the status and distribution of pests, diseases and weeds in organic and conventionally grown cereals, (ii) assess the likely rate of expansion of organic cereal production and the areas where this is most likely to occur, together with any likely or consequent change in the distribution of conventionally grown cereals, (iii) assess the distribution of specific cereal cultivars and species in organic and non-organic production in relation to their impact on disease, pest and weed distribution. A specific sub-objective will be to assess the likely impact of the increased use of organically produced seed on seed-borne diseases, (iv) try to forecast whether or not the changes in cereal production will affect the current status and distribution of pests, diseases and weeds, and, if so, in which major directions, (v) make recommendations for future research, both to ensure that the forecast under paragraph (iii) is correct and that any negative trends are highlighted and, if possible, dealt with. Methods A literature review was undertaken to identify potential risks to conventional and organic production cereals on an extension of the organic area on risks of pests, diseases and weeds. See main report for results. Future work Monitoring of the more important pests and diseases in organic production would be prudent. Any problems for non-organic cereal producers are unlikely to arise for several years because of the small scale and slow increase of organic cereal production, but this should be regarded as a ‘grace’ period to allow for development of appropriate solutions before any potential problems become important in practice. Problems for organic producers may emerge more quickly; these need to be monitored so that cultivar and other recommendations can be developed. It is likely that the best spectrum of cultivars for non-organic and organic production will differ, which would help in restricting disease interactions between the two production systems. Any constraints on production of seed for organic cereal growing should be removed so far as possible. Development of the system of bi-cropping, both for organic and non-organic production, should be continued since there are good indications that this can restrict problems due to slugs, aphids and BYDV, septoria leaf and glume blotch, and probably take all. The importance of using disease resistant cultivars needs to be still further stressed for both organic and non-organic production. The influence of sowing date on disease development, particularly in the autumn, needs more attention. Renewed efforts to develop and introduce production of cultivar mixtures, particularly for organic cereal production, would help to restrict disease development. Fundamental studies on the biology of the major perennial weeds are still needed. Although seed spread can be minimised by frequent cutting, the effects of this on the spread of roots and rhizomes is poorly understood. It is important to maintain a regular watch or survey for indications of any increase in the key seed-borne diseases that may occur in organic cereal production and to determine the reasons for any such increase. Technology transfer The report will be suitable for wider dissemination among researchers and the agriculture industry. All contributing organisations have means by which this information can be made available through press briefings, Web-sites and at farming events

CONSEQUENCES OF THE TWO RECORD YEARS OF CEREAL INTERVENTION IN HUNGARY

In this paper, problems connected to the adaptation of EU cereal intervention in Hungary are discussed. Statistical evidence is provided about the two record years of intervention in Hungary proving that farmers did not take part in intervention though the system was sought to be tailored to farmers needs. Intervention purchases took place at the wholesale level and traders were the most active participants in both intervention periods. This dynamic intervention activity of traders will significantly alter the Hungarian trade sector by bringing it closer to the physical processes of the cereal chain. As to the size of intervention, the great volume of the purchase of maize has resulted in an exceptionally severe problem considering the large surplus of Hungarian cereals. Recently, the Commission hampered maize intervention in Hungary by excluding this crop from cereals eligible for intervention. This measure is criticised in the paper, as we deem it unnecessary in recent market conditions, and in our view it doesn't make up the compulsory need for a complex reconsideration of recent EU cereal policy on the long term.EU cereal policy, cereal intervention, maize intervention, Hungary, Agricultural and Food Policy,

Cereal supplies in rural families of the senegalese groundnut basin : Who is responsible for meeting family food needs?

In the traditional operation of production-consumption groups in rural areas of Senegal, the group chief, or Borom njël, has a social duty to make sure family food needs are met. His ability to do this is supported by certain social rules governing these groups, and by a favourable environment. However, various changes have now adversely affected the environment. These changes prompted us to assess the Borom njël's current ability to go on playing his social rule as a food provider. From data collected in two villages of the Senegalese Groundnut Basin, using multivariate analysis, we identified three production-consumption group profiles according to how the Borom njël ensured main cereal supplies: (i°) market purchase with migrants' remittances; (ii°) home production and (iii°) market purchase with own resources. The ability of the Borom njël to ensure cereal supplies differed according to the profile. We used a multivariate logit model to study the determinants affecting the Borom njël's ability to ensure cereal supplies for the production-consumption group. We found that physical assets and wage labour employment increased this ability. We also found that agricultural income, including livestock, was positively correlated to the likelihood of the Borom njël successfully ensuring cereal supplies, particularly those depending heavily on own production. Additional income earned by the Borom njël from non-agricultural activity had the same positive effect, particularly when ensuring cereals provision through market purchase. We end with some thoughts on the increasing reliance of Borom njëls on migrants' remittances to ensure that family cereal needs are met

Alkylresorcinols in cereal grains

Alkylresorcinols are phenolic lipids present at levels of up to 0.15% of whole grain wheat and rye, but little is known about their presence in food, absorption in animals and humans, and their in vivo biological effects. Because alkylresorcinols are present in the human diet in significant amounts only in products containing whole grain wheat or rye, they have potential to be biomarkers of whole grain wheat and rye intake. This thesis describes some of the research undertaken to investigate whether alkylresorcinols could be biomarkers of whole grain wheat and rye intake. A rapid gas chromatographic method was developed to analyse alkylresorcinols in whole cereal grains. This method was then applied to detect the presence and amount of alkylresorcinols in several cereal grains. Wheat, rye and triticale all contain moderate to high amounts of alkylresorcinols (300-1500 µg/g), while barley contains low amounts (~50 µg/g). In these cereals, alkylresorcinols are present in the bran fraction. All other cereals analysed (rice, oats, maize, sorghum and millet) did not contain any detectable amounts of alkylresorcinols. Previous studies have suggested that alkylresorcinols are destroyed by the baking process. However, an extraction method using hot propanol:water was able to recover all alkylresorcinols from experimental breads, indicating that alkylresorcinols are not destroyed during baking. The absorption of alkylresorcinols in rats, pigs and humans was determined, with values for absorption ranging from 34–79%, depending on the model and the amount of alkylresorcinols consumed. Alkylresorcinols in the plasma of pigs fed a single meal of rye, peaked at 3-4 hours, and remained elevated compared to the baseline levels after 16 hours. Preliminary studies to find alkylresorcinol metabolites in humans suggest that they have their alkyl chains shortened by β-oxidation. The effect of purified rye alkylresorcinols on lipid parameters (tocopherols, cholesterol and fatty acids) was tested on a rat model. Alkylresorcinols did not appear to affect rat performance, but in high amounts they could decrease liver cholesterol, and moderately elevate γ-tocopherol levels. Overall, the results suggest that alkylresorcinols do not have a large effect on lipid absorption/metabolism in rats